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 This coastal town, known for its steady beach breaks and amazing surf, is also notorious for its pulsating nightlife and adventure sports. Jaco offers everything from parasailing and canopy tours to horseback rides along secluded mountain trails.
Get a bird’s eye view of the rainforest aboard an open-air gondola, or cast a line for big game fish in the warm Pacific sea. After a day of sun and fun, unwind with a soothing massage or browse souvenirs in one of Jaco’s eclectic shops.
Explore Jaco on our travel blog
Air Activities:
Aerial Tram
Take in a panoramic vista while slowly climbing above the treetops aboard an open-air gondola at the Rainforest Aerial Tram Pacific, on the outskirts of Jaco. Visitors can choose from several combo-tours which include the tram ride plus a canopy tour, or a stroll through the park’s serpentarium and heliconia gallery.
Canopy Tour
There are four canopy tour companies in Jaco, and each offers adrenaline-pumping heights and a naturalist guide as part of the experience. Tours can include combinations of an aerial tram ride, zip-lines, suspension bridges, rappel lines and Tarzan swings. Read more about canopy tours
Hang Gliding
Soar high above beaches and hillsides with a certified instructor. Hang gliding tours include transportation, snacks and instruction. Parrita, Hermosa and Caldera are a few launching sights just a short drive from Jaco.
Parasailing
Combine the thrill of a boat ride with the exhilaration of parachuting. Licensed and insured tour companies offer this adventure sport in nearby Playa Herradura.
Ultralight Tours
Take wing aboard a super light aircraft and fly over waterfalls, mountains and miles of shoreline. Varying trips are available, and tours are based in Bijagual, a 35-minute drive from Jaco.
Land Activities:ATV and Dune Buggy Tours
Explore the hills and mountains surrounding Jaco on an all-terrain vehicle or dune buggy. Half-day excursions often include a pit stop to swim in cool waterfalls.
 Bird and Wildlife Watching
Carara National Park is one of only two areas in Costa Rica where scarlet macaws are endemic. Other wildlife in the park includes: sloths, agoutis, ocelots, toucans, deer and white-faced monkeys. Marking the northern border of the park, the Tarcoles River boasts one of the planet’s biggest populations of American crocodiles, with an average of 63 crocs per square mile. It is also rich in avifauna, with more than 120 bird species living within its mangrove estuaries. If visiting between July and December, check out the Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting along Playa Hermosa’s protected shores.
Day Spas
Relax and unwind with a therapeutic hot stone massage or a ginger-lime body wrap at one of Jaco’s day spas. Treatments include facials, pedicures, body scrubs and pampering packages. Or, let the spa come to you and reserve a hotel visit with a certified therapist. Read more about day spas
Hiking
The easy to moderate trails of Carara National Park offer excellent hiking and wildlife watching opportunities. Several Jaco tour companies provide guided tours to the park that include transportation, a bilingual guide and beverages.
Horseback Riding
Discover backcountry roads and hidden waterfalls on a guided horseback trip. Half or full-day excursions are available, and horses are matched to rider according to ability. Be wary of local tour operators offering rock-bottom prices; they will often use horses that are overworked and underfed.
Gambling
Gaming fans can try their luck at Stellaris Casino at the Los Suenos Resort in Herradura, Hotel Cocal and Casino, or the Jazz Casino located in Hotel Amapola, at the southern end of Jaco beach.
Golfing
Los Suenos Resort located in Playa Herradura, five minutes north of Jaco, has an 18-hole, award winning golf course. Green fees typically run between $70 and $140. A new golf course is currently being built south of Jaco. Read more about golfing in the central Pacific
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes can be rented in downtown Jaco for around $10 per day.
Shopping
Visitors can spend hours browsing for sarongs, sunglasses, beachwear, handicrafts and art in Jaco’s assorted shops.  Souvenir stands, surf shops, boutiques and art galleries line the main street in town. Street vendors sell inexpensive silver jewelry, pottery and unique charms made from shells and seeds.
Water Activities:
Canoeing & Sea Kayaking
Canoe and sea kayak tours depart from Playa Agujas daily. Explore coastal waters and marine life aboard an outrigger canoe, which seats up to eight people, or travel by sea kayak to deserted beaches for wildlife watching. Tours include transportation, equipment and guide.
Day Trip to Tortuga Island
Jaco visitors can arrange a day trip to visit Tortuga Island off the Nicoya Peninsula, famous for its white-sand beaches and clear waters. An all day tour includes roundtrip boat or catamaran transportation from Playa Herradura or Puntarenas, bilingual guide, snorkeling, beverages and a BBQ lunch on the beach. Dolphins, sea turtles and whales can be spotted along the way.
Jet Skis
Jet skis are available to rent in Jaco. Guided tours are offered to isolated bays, beaches and islands—tours last approximately two and a half hours.
Safari Boat Ride & Crocodile Tour
Meander down the Tarcoles River, its mangrove estuaries rich in biodiversity. Observe anhingas, herons, egrets, ibis, ducks, kingfishers and American crocodiles, some measuring over 12 feet long. The two-hour boat trip includes transportation from Jaco, bilingual guide and beverages.
Sailing
Deluxe catamarans set sail from Jaco and specialize in half-day cruises which include snorkeling, dolphin watching and a light lunch.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Both snorkeling and diving trips leave from Los Suenos  Marina where charter boats travel to remote beaches, nearby reefs and islands. Full or half-day packages for either sport can be arranged.
Sport Fishing
The warm waters off the Central Pacific Coast offer phenomenal sport fishing year-round. Charters leave from Los Suenos Marina in Herradura Bay, and giant sailfish are the main target. Offshore fishing is typically done 15-30 miles out, and anglers regularly pull in marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and tuna. Inshore fishing is done near reefs, river mouths and estuaries where roosterfish, snapper, mackerel and snook are common. Single and multi-day packages are available to suit just about any budget. Read more about sport fishing
Surfing
There are surf shops galore in Jaco, all of which offer board rentals/ sales and surf lessons. Novice wave riders will be surfing on their own by the end of the day with the help of an experienced surf instructor. Short boards typically rent for $10 a day and long boards for $15. Several surf schools have combo packages that include lessons and excursions to hot surf breaks in the area. Read more about surfing
- Jaco Beach: Year-round beach breaks are perfect for surfers of all levels. “Roca Loca”, a tricky rock bottom wave, is located at the southern tip of Jaco. It is for the experienced only as strong currents and shallow rocks make for a challenging ride.
- Playa Hermosa: One of the biggest beach breaks (after Dominical) on the country’s Pacific Coast. Just three miles south of Jaco, it is a favorite spot among experienced surfers, with seven distinct surf points along its 6.2-mile shore.
Check out all of the Central Pacific Surf Breaks
Whitewater River Rafting
Rafting trips to the Naranjo and Savegre rivers are available from the Jaco area. River runners can paddle Class II-IV rapids on a variety of tours ranging from half to multi-day adventures.
Culture and Festivals:
Learn Spanish
Several Spanish schools provide intensive immersion courses ranging from one week to several months. Students usually receive four hours of language instruction per day and are encouraged to participate in cultural activities such as cooking classes and salsa dancing.
Music Festivals
There is always something happening in Jaco, from local jams to wild reggaeton concerts featuring big name artists like Daddy Yankee. Doce Lunas Hotel, located on the outskirts of Jaco, frequently holds rock, folk and reggae shows, which attract a mix of travelers and Jaco residents.
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